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The First LSD Trip Was a Literal Bicycle Ride 83 Years Ago. Fans of the Psychedelic Celebrate the Occasion Every April 19

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:56:08 +0000

A chemist in Switzerland synthesized a drug that alters consciousness in 1943. His discovery changed the study of medicine, psychiatry and biology—and became a central component of the counterculture movement

Hundreds of Spanish Settlers Died at the 'Port of Famine.' This Newly Discovered Silver Coin Reveals Where the Doomed Colony Was Founded 400 Years Ago

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:42:14 +0000

Ciudad del Rey Don Felipe was established on the north shore of Chile's Strait of Magellan in 1584. When an English navigator came across it several years later, few survivors remained

After Rounding the Moon, Artemis 2 Astronauts Reflect on the Enormity of the Experience: 'We as Countries and as Humans Did This'

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:01:29 +0000

In their first press conference since returning from space, the four-person crew described feeling small but united with people on Earth and said the mission was an achievement by all of humanity

A Bountiful Berry Harvest Put These Chunky, Endangered Parrots in the Mood. Now, Scientists Are Celebrating a Breeding Bonanza

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

New Zealand's kakapo have laid 256 eggs, and around 100 of them have hatched, providing a bright spot in a decades-long conservation effort. The official chick count won't be confirmed until the youngest birds are about five months old

Why Is a Cold War Bunker Buried Underneath This Medieval English Castle? In Case of Nuclear 'Armageddon'

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:00:23 +0000

Archaeologists uncovered a relic of the 20th-century conflict beneath Scarborough Castle, decades after the bunker was sealed and its exact location was forgotten

These Tiny Ants Crawled All Over Larger Ants and Licked Them Clean. Scientists Aren't Sure How This Behavior Benefits Any of Them

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000

After witnessing the interactions in an Arizona desert, a Smithsonian researcher suggests that the little ants picked off tasty treats and that the big ants got thoroughly groomed in hard-to-reach places

Large Invasive Rodents Are Wreaking Havoc in California. New Research Suggests Someone Deliberately Introduced Them

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Genetic testing revealed that nutria living in California since 2017 are most closely related to a population in central Oregon—too far for the creatures to have traveled on their own

In the 1990s, a Dog Taught Kids About Shakespeare and Homer. A New Documentary Tells the Tale of 'Wishbone'—From His Backflips to His Historical Hats

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:31:11 +0000

The film reunites the human cast and crew who saw the potential of a Jack Russell terrier to bring classic literature to life on PBS

Medieval Writings and Tree Rings Helped Researchers Track a Solar Storm From 800 Years Ago and Reconstruct Past Solar Cycles

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Diary entries by the Japanese poet Fujiwara no Teika, along with other historical sources from across Asia and Europe, played pivotal roles in a new study

A Sudden Squall Doomed This Stone-Hauling Vessel in Lake Erie. More Than 150 Years Later, Divers Just Found the Shipwreck

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:35:37 +0000

The "Clough," a 125-foot-long bark, sank in September 1868 near Cleveland, with just one crew member surviving to explain what had happened

A Glowing Sphere Towering Over Utah Sent an Urgent Artistic Message: The Great Salt Lake Is Drying Up

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:17 +0000

Olafur Eliasson's latest installation married visuals with a soundscape to draw the public's attention to the plight of the important ecosystem

Why Does This Newly Discovered 2,000-Year-Old Stone Slab Depict a Roman Emperor as an Egyptian Pharaoh?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:56:07 +0000

The sandstone monument shows Tiberius standing next to a family of local gods. Archaeologists say the scene illustrates the ruler's role as a leader who upheld cosmic order in Egyptian society

How Do Different Psychedelics Affect the Brain? Scientists Analyzed More Than 500 Neural Scans to Find Out

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:00 +0000

A new study suggests that four psychoactive compounds work in surprisingly similar ways, and that they break down the separation between how we think internally and how we perceive the outside world

Does Your Cat Always Leave Behind a Half-Full Bowl of Food? New Research Points to Why Our Furry Friends Can Be Such Picky Eaters

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

A new study suggests that domestic cats get bored of monotonous meals. Switching up their food—or even just nearby scents—could help them join the clean plate club

Turtles May Have Been Tasty Snacks for Neanderthals 125,000 Years Ago. But Their Shells Were Probably the Real Prize

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:46:48 +0000

New research based on fragments discovered at the Neumark-Nord site in Germany suggests Neanderthals may have transformed the shells into tools

Scientists Just Made the Most Complete Map of the Clitoris's Sensory Nerve Network. Here's What They Found

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Cultural taboos around female sexuality have hindered research on the organ. But a new study provides pivotal insights that can inform important surgeries and health care

A Rare 1897 Film Discovered in an Old Trunk in Michigan Features the First On-Screen Appearance of a Robot

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:16:42 +0000

Filmmaker Georges Méliès employed some of his signature special effects techniques to create comedy in "Gugusse and the Automaton"

Colombia Plans to Euthanize Dozens of 'Cocaine Hippos,' Descendants of Animals Brought by Notorious Drug Trafficker Pablo Escobar

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:15:13 +0000

If nothing is done to control the invasive creatures, officials estimate the population could grow to 1,000 animals by 2035. So, they aim to cull about 80 individuals later this year

Born to a Family of Sharecroppers, This Topiary Artist Overcame Discrimination to Become the 'Picasso of Plants'

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:44:14 +0000

Self-taught artist Pearl Fryar, who died this month at age 86, got his start when he tried to win an award from his local garden club. He ended up becoming a celebrity in the horticultural world

Long Misidentified, This Seal Tooth Pendant Was Carefully Crafted by a Prehistoric Human Roughly 15,000 Years Ago

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:23:25 +0000

Discovered in 1867, the artifact raises new theories about the Magdalenian people who inhabited southwest England during the Late Upper Paleolithic period

One of the American West's Most Iconic Birds Is Attempting to Mate Near a Dangerous Airport. Could Robo-Birds Help Save Them?

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Conservationists are deploying dancing animatronic birds to lure male greater sage grouse away from the Jackson Hole Airport, where dozens of the creatures have been struck and killed by planes

From Sparkling Tiaras to Pastel Hats, New Buckingham Palace Exhibition Celebrates the Fashion of Elizabeth II

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:01 +0000

In addition to being a world leader, the British queen was a fashion icon. A new show at Elizabeth’s former residence highlights some of the most memorable looks and the history behind them

The National Gallery of Art Holds an Artistic Mirror Up to the United States for Its Big 250th Birthday

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

In celebration of the semiquincentennial this year, "Dear America" looks at the country's land, communities and revolutionary history through artworks dating back to the late 18th century

On Major Music Release Days, Stay Extra Vigilant While Driving. Car Crash Deaths Seem to Spike When Top Artists Drop New Albums

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:37:36 +0000

A new study found a correlation between big album release days and traffic fatalities. While the research can't prove the new music caused the accidents, the work hints at a major distractor while driving

War Can Feel Surreal. See How This American Photojournalist Captured the Horrors—and Dark Humor—of World War II

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:04:59 +0000

A rediscovered scrapbook showcases never-before-seen images by Lee Miller, a war correspondent for British "Vogue" who followed American troops through Europe

This Millennium-Old Sacrificial Altar in Mexico Belonged to a Civilization That Thrived Before the Aztecs

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Surrounded by human skulls, the artifact was uncovered at the site of the Toltec people's capital in central Mexico ahead of construction of a new railway project

This Nearly 300-Million-Year-Old Mummified Reptile Reveals the Evolutionary Origins of How We Breathe

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:06:58 +0000

Unusually well-preserved fossils have provided the earliest known evidence of a land vertebrate that could pump air in and out of its chest using muscles between the ribs—the same strategy used by modern mammals, reptiles and birds

A Dizzying Spiral Staircase With a Single Guardrail Once Led to the Top of the Eiffel Tower. Now, You Can Buy 14 of the Original Steps

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:08:16 +0000

The 1,062 steps connecting the tower's second and third levels were installed in 1889. Fragments from the 137-year-old staircase can be found at several French museums

Rolled Up in a Cellar for Decades, This Artemisia Gentileschi Painting Is Now Up for Auction. Why Is Mary Magdalene's Face Missing From the Portrait?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:10:03 +0000

Found in Berlin, the artwork was probably damaged in the chaotic aftermath of World War II. Despite the gaping hole in the canvas, it could sell for upwards of $180,000 later this month

Songkran Is Thailand’s Splashing New Year’s Festival, When Everyone Gets Out a Super Soaker and Prepares to Get Drenched

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:38:47 +0000

The memorable tradition has a deep cultural history rooted in Buddhism and increasing global notoriety for its rowdy water fights

In a First, This Personalized Cell Therapy Treated Three Life-Threatening Autoimmune Diseases in One Patient

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The patient was bedridden and needed daily blood transfusions, and she had tried nine different therapies that didn't bring lasting effects. So, researchers modified some of her immune cells so they would attack her faulty cells

Where Does This Anti-War Masterpiece Belong? In Spain, a Request to Borrow Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ Sparks a Bitter Debate

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:30:00 +0000

The artwork depicts the bombing of a Basque village in 1937. Now, the relocation debate is raising questions about how to balance the painting’s cultural significance with conservation needs

Enslaved and Free Workers Built Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Brick by Brick. Archaeologists Just Discovered One of the Kilns They Used

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:14 +0000

Researchers think the newly unearthed structure was used to fire and cure bricks during construction of the site’s original mansion in the early 1770s

Artemis 2 Astronauts Successfully Return to Earth After Completing a Historic Mission Around the Moon

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:07:00 +0000

The crewmembers splashed down Friday after breaking a space-faring record and viewing lunar features never seen by human eyes during their ten-day trip. It marks the first time anyone has left Earth's orbit in more than 50 years

These Wild Chimps Have Been Fighting in a 'Civil War' for Nearly a Decade. It's the Bloodiest Split Ever Seen Among Their Kind

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:12:47 +0000

The Ngogo chimpanzees in Uganda have divided themselves into two main factions, and dozens of deaths have been recorded since the split in 2018. A new study details the unprecedented violence, which could shed light on the evolutionary underpinnings of human warfare

This Vincent van Gogh Painting Was Found Wrapped in an Ikea Bag and a Blood-Stained Pillow. Now, the Artwork Has Been Restored to Its Former Glory

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:00:39 +0000

Art sleuth Arthur Brand recovered "The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring" in 2023, three years after it was stolen from a Dutch museum. Following careful restoration, the canvas is now back on display

After Nearly 80 Years of Doubt, Scientists Say a Spear Lodged Between Elephant Ribs Offers Evidence That Neanderthals Hunted Big Game

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:05:15 +0000

In 1948, amateur archaeologists unearthed the remains, which should have shifted researchers' views of Neanderthals. But poor documentation sowed skepticism in the scientific community

This Fashion Designer Collaborated With Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau to Imagine Fabulous Surrealist Ensembles

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:33:39 +0000

A new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum lays out the history and legacy of the House of Schiaparelli, focusing on its founder’s unique creative processes

As Their Antarctic Habitat Melts Away, Emperor Penguins Are Now Considered an Endangered Species

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:35:14 +0000

The International Union for Conservation of Nature predicts that the birds' population could be cut in half by the 2080s. The organization also changed the statuses of Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals

Octopus Sex Just Got Weirder. In Addition to Depositing Sperm, Males' Specialized Mating Arm Can 'Taste' Female Hormones

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:38:26 +0000

The hectocotylus is both a reproductive organ and a sensory organ, a rare combination in animals, new research suggests

A Mysterious, Monumental Scroll on Public Display for the First Time Paints a Picture of Artistic Fusion in Colonial India

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:45:46 +0000

A new exhibition shares the artistic legacy of centuries of British East India Company influence in East and Southeast Asia

Jesus's Burial Cloth or Medieval Forgery? DNA Evidence Further Complicates the Debate Over the Shroud of Turin

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:17:46 +0000

A new analysis revealed traces of various plants, animals and humans on the controversial linen cloth. But outside experts are skeptical of the findings, which could complicate efforts to identify the shroud's original wearer

Watch These Rock-Climbing Fish Scale a 50-Foot Waterfall in the Congo Basin, the First Known Evidence of This Behavior in Africa

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:02:25 +0000

The tiny fish, called shellears, use microscopic hook-like growths on their fins to ascend—and they take a lot of breaks. The full climb probably takes about ten hours, according to a new study

A Small Rodent Hero Left a Giant Legacy. Now, Cambodia Honors This Famous Bomb-Sniffing Rat With a Seven-Foot Statue

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Magawa the African giant pouched rat cleared more 1.5 million square feet of land mines during his five-year career, making him one of the most successful bomb-sniffing rodents in the country’s history

Long Before Machine Guns, Ancient Roman Troops Used This 2,000-Year-Old Rapid-Fire Weapon in Pompeii, New Research Suggests

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:13:28 +0000

Ancient Roman forces may have used the polybolos to quell a rebellion at Pompeii in 89 B.C.E. The unique weapon was likely developed by a Greek engineer centuries earlier

What's Inside America's Lost Luggage? These Travelers Abandoned a Samurai Sword, a Meteorite and a Robot With a Mysterious Purpose

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Unclaimed Baggage sells lost belongings at a 50,000-square-foot store in Alabama. An annual report explores how objects packed in 2025 reflect cultural trends

This Fossil Held the World Record for the Earliest Known Octopus. Turns Out, It's Not an Octopus After All

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:07:00 +0000

New research suggests the 300-million-year-old specimen is actually a relative of the nautilus

Archaeologists Didn’t Expect to Find Anything at This Site in England. Then, They Stumbled Upon a Roman Villa and a Bronze Artifact Dubbed 'Norfolk Nessie'

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:47:53 +0000

Ahead of wind farm development on Britain's eastern coast, excavations along an underground cable route uncovered the ruins of an ancient farming estate that boasted its own bathhouse

Freshwater Fish Migrations Are Disappearing Across the Planet, Finds U.N. Report

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:38:30 +0000

The assessment identified over 300 species of fish that urgently need international conservation effort

Can Frida Kahlo Leave Mexico? Plans to Relocate a Trove of Paintings by the Famous Artist Spark a Heated Debate

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:11:40 +0000

Nearly 400 cultural heritage professionals signed an open letter protesting plans to move a collection featuring artworks by the renowned Mexican painter out of her home country

See the 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Roman Cargo From an Accidental Shipwreck Discovered at the Bottom of a Lake in Switzerland

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:31:16 +0000

Divers recovered weapons, tools, pieces of horse-drawn chariots, ceramic plates, platters and goblets. One archaeologist surmises that the loss would have been "immense" at the time

What Is a Shark? A New Genetic Analysis Throws an 'Unexpected Wrench' Into Our Understanding of the Ocean Predators

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Some shark species might belong to their own distinct lineage, which is separate from all other sharks, rays and skates, according to a new study

New Fossils Discovered in China Hint That Complex Life Evolved Millions of Years Earlier Than Scientists Thought

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:32:43 +0000

The assemblage suggests that the ancestors of some of today's animal groups may have arisen before the famed Cambrian explosion

See the Awe-Inspiring New Photos of the Moon and Earth Sent Back From the Artemis 2 Mission

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:07:30 +0000

The astronauts are on their way home after looping around the moon on a historic flyby. Here are the dazzling images they captured

Thieves Who Allegedly Stole an Ancient Gold Helmet Belonging to a Lost European Culture Just Returned It

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:28:37 +0000

More than a year after the Romanian treasure disappeared from a museum in the Netherlands, it’s back in the hands of authorities. The men accused of stealing it will face trial later this month

Scientists Engineered Tobacco Plants to Produce Five Mind-Altering Psychedelic Compounds

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:58:12 +0000

The substances have been used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, but they've recently become popular as possible therapeutics for mental health conditions

Becoming an Expert Birder Can Reshape Your Brain and Might Help Protect It From Aging, New Research Suggests

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Compared with novices, seasoned birders had denser, more structurally complex brain regions involved with tasks like object identification, visual processing, attention and working memory

This Danish Warship Exploded in Battle 225 Years Ago. Now, Archaeologists Are Racing to Recover Its Artifacts

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:16:17 +0000

The destruction of the "Dannebroge" was documented in art and history books. Now, thanks to a museum's excavations, archaeologists can study the wreck up close for the first time

Lightning Strikes on Jupiter Are 100 Times as Powerful as Those on Earth, a New Study Suggests

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:04:00 +0000

Scientists finally have a clearer picture of the gas giant's intense storms

This Soldier Died of Yellow Fever During a Hurricane 153 Years Ago. Archaeologists Just Found His Grave

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:05:38 +0000

George Tupper, a 22-year-old from Massachusetts, was nearly a year into his military service when a yellow fever outbreak struck Fort Jefferson

These Rotund and 'Charmingly Goofy' Birds Are Delighting New Yorkers and Dancing on Social Media. What Is the American Woodcock?

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:16:18 +0000

The endearing animals make a pit stop in Bryant Park during their migrations to northern breeding grounds, gathering fans and starring in viral videos

Doctors Used 'Digital Twins' of Patients' Hearts to Fix Their Irregular Heartbeats

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:47:43 +0000

A small clinical trial suggests the technology can help physicians perform life-saving surgeries more efficiently and safely

See a Colorful Wall of Vintage iMacs and a Re-creation of Steve Jobs' Garage at a New Apple Museum in the Netherlands

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The tech world changed forever when two college dropouts founded Apple on April 1, 1976. Fifty years later, a museum dedicated to the company's history and evolution has opened in the city of Utrecht

Artemis Astronauts Overcome Toilet Trouble and Officially Head Toward the Moon

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:35:27 +0000

Houston, we have a potty problem

Despite Their Tiny Brains, Bumblebees Have a Surprising Sense of Rhythm, According to a New Study by Neuroscientists

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:10:23 +0000

By speeding up the tempo of alternating flashing lights, the scientists were able to demonstrate yet another example of the small insect's remarkable mind

The World's Longest Outdoor Escalator Just Opened in China. Riding the 3,000-Foot-Long System to the Top Takes More Than 20 Minutes

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:28:33 +0000

The new "Goddess" escalator in Wushan County features 21 individual escalators and 8 elevators. The modular design carries riders up 800 feet in elevation

Rock Art Suggests the Tasmanian Tiger May Have Survived on Mainland Australia Longer Than Previously Thought

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:58:54 +0000

Archaeologists think some of the paintings may be less than 1,000 years old, even though the animals were thought to have disappeared from the continent roughly 3,000 years ago

Meet Domino, a Tiny, Bumpy Fish Making a Splash in Chicago

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:48:37 +0000

The warty frogfish, also known as a clown anglerfish, is believed to be the first of its kind born and raised in captivity

The Titanic's Wealthiest Victim Was Carrying a Gold Pocket Watch When He Died. Now, It Could Sell for $500,000 at Auction

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:57:53 +0000

John Jacob Astor IV was returning from his honeymoon with his wife, who survived the 1912 disaster. His pocket watch and gold pencil case are going up for sale this month

Are These the Earliest Known Dice in the World? Native Americans May Have Used Them to Play Games of Chance More Than 12,000 Years Ago

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:30:21 +0000

A new study suggests that humans were playing with probability during the Ice Age—and that dice were invented 6,000 years earlier than previously thought

An Astronaut's Sudden Inability to Speak Prompted the ISS's First Medical Evacuation. Doctors Still Don't Know What Caused the Issue

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The individual who fell ill, NASA's Mike Fincke, says the medical team is almost certain that the issue was related to being in space

Experts Are Carefully Restoring a 15th-Century Masterpiece by Giovanni Bellini—and You Can Watch Them Work

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:05:57 +0000

The two-year project is expected to cost around $580,000, and visitors to the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice will be able to observe the process in person

This 500-Million-Year-Old Fossil of a Claw-Bearing Predator Uncovers the Origins of Spiders, Scorpions and Other Arthropods

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:22:13 +0000

A new analysis of a specimen found more than 40 years ago reveals the oldest known chelicerate, defined by its pair of pincer-like appendages

In a First, an Astronomer May Have Witnessed a Comet Stop Its Spin—Then Reverse Its Rotation

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:56:19 +0000

Archival images snapped by the Hubble Space Telescope revealed the unusual event

This Painting Was Thought to Be a Workshop Copy of a Rembrandt. Now, One Scholar Argues It's the Real Deal

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:16:07 +0000

"Old Man With a Gold Chain" is on display beside a smaller copy for the first time in centuries. According to scholar Gary Schwartz, the Dutch master painted both himself

How Do Snakes 'Stand' Upright Nearly Stick-Straight? New Research Points to How They Pull Off the Gravity-Defying Feat

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

These clever creatures seem to concentrate their muscle activity near their bases, which helps them cross gaps between tree branches in the wild

NASA's Artemis 2 Mission Launches, Sending Humans Toward the Moon for the First Time in More Than 50 Years

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:35:03 +0000

Four astronauts have begun a ten-day mission in which they’ll loop around the moon, laying the groundwork to put humans on the lunar surface as early as 2028

This Secret Passageway May Have Been Part of the Underground Railroad. Now, Preservationists Say It's in Danger

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:08:04 +0000

The Merchant's House Museum in New York City announced its investigation into the tunnel's history in February. A neighboring development could threaten the building's walls and foundations

Humans Might Struggle to Make Babies in Space. Sperm Gets Disoriented in Microgravity, a New Study Suggests

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:59:53 +0000

Simulated near-weightless conditions reduced human sperm’s navigational abilities

What Did Ancient Pompeians Burn as Offerings to Their Gods? New Research Reveals the Surprising Answer

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:29:04 +0000

An analysis of incense burners discovered in the doomed city identified traces of resin imported from sub-Saharan Africa or Asia, testifying to Pompeii's extensive trade networks

A Truck Driver Spent 20 Years Making This Astonishing Scale Model of Every Single Building in New York City

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:45:40 +0000

The 1,350-square-foot model is now on display at the Museum of the City of New York, where visitors can use binoculars to see tiny replicas of all five boroughs

Could Python Blood Lead to the Next Generation of Weight-Loss Drugs?

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:25:09 +0000

Researchers discovered an appetite-suppressing molecule in python blood. If one day turned into a medication, it might lack some of the common negative side effects of GLP-1s

These Snorkeling Scientists Stumbled Upon a Surprising Trove of Fossils in a Texas Water Cave

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

They found remains of animals that have never been uncovered in Central Texas. The fossils hint that the region was warm, moist and forested 100,000 years ago

Is This 1,800-Year-Old Mosaic the First Known Image of a Woman Fighting Wild Beasts in an Ancient Roman Arena?

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The artwork was destroyed during World War I. But an archaeologist's sketch may reveal a female figure wielding a whip and facing off against a leopard, a new study suggests

This C-3PO Head From 'The Empire Strikes Back' Just Sold for More Than $1 Million at Auction

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:23:25 +0000

The 'Star Wars' prop was likely the only C-3PO head from the 1980 film to appear on the collector market. It features working light-up eyes, including one with the original wiring

The 'Cicada' Variant of Covid-19 Is Spreading in the United States. Here's What You Need to Know

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:35:29 +0000

Infection levels are still low in the country, but the highly mutated variant might be able to evade your body’s immune defenses acquired via vaccine or past infection

Art Thieves Steal Paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse Worth More Than $10 Million, Fleeing the Scene in Just Three Minutes

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:48:09 +0000

The Magnani-Rocca Foundation in Italy was the target of a shocking art heist—only five months after a high-profile theft at the Louvre in Paris

When Did the Earth's Crust Start to Shift? Scientists Uncover Evidence of Plate Tectonics Happening 3.48 Billion Years Ago

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:48:42 +0000

A new study provides the oldest direct evidence of tectonic plate movement ever recorded

Watch Unprecedented Footage of Sperm Whales Helping a Newborn Calf Take Its First Breaths

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Unrelated animals worked with the mother and her relatives, marking the first known evidence of whales from multiple families assisting in a birth

Charles Dickens Searched the Streets of London and Found Inspiration for His Evocative Fiction

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

A three-part BBC series will examine how real events shaped the 19th-century British author's writing. The show is part of the National Year of Reading in the U.K.

Did Neanderthals Use Birch Bark Tar as an Antibiotic to Treat Wounds and Infections?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:55:01 +0000

Scientists created samples of the black resin using three methods and tested their effectiveness against two common bacteria

These Long-Lost Photos of the Chelsea Hotel Reveal Intimate Portraits of Its Bohemian Residents—From Patti Smith to Bob Dylan

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:10:05 +0000

Photographer Albert Scopin documented the countercultural hub at its peak in the mid-20th century. Now, the recovered photos are the subject of a new book and exhibition celebrating the New York City landmark

Astronomers Discover a Rare Primitive Star That Provides a Chemical Snapshot of the Early Universe

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:13:37 +0000

PicII-503 is likely a second-generation star, born from the remnants of the very first stars, according to a new study

These 17-Million-Year-Old Fossils Could Rewrite the Evolutionary Tree of Apes—Including Humans

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:08:23 +0000

Jawbone fragments and teeth from a previously unknown species hint that the evolution of modern apes occurred in what's now North Africa or the Arabian Peninsula, rather than in East Africa

Sharks in the Bahamas Test Positive for Drugs, Including Cocaine and Painkillers, in a New Study

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Around one-third of the studied sharks had detectable levels of the analyzed drugs in their blood

Willem de Kooning Didn't Get His Big Break Until His 40s. See the Stunning Abstract Paintings That First Captivated Audiences

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Artworks that showcase the painter's early foray into Abstract Expressionism are now on view at the Princeton University Art Museum

Does This Skeleton Found Beneath a Dutch Church Belong to D'Artagnan, the Man Who Inspired 'The Three Musketeers'?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:36:20 +0000

Workers discovered the skeleton during recent repair work at the church in Maastricht. D'Artagnan died during the siege of the city in 1673

A Clump of Human Brain Cells on a Computer Chip Learned to Play the Nostalgic Video Game 'Doom'

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:54:55 +0000

The technology could one day help researchers develop drugs and tailor treatments to individual patients

Why Was This 2,000-Year-Old Sling Bullet Inscribed With the Word 'Learn'?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:25:58 +0000

The artifact is the first sling bullet of its kind unearthed at the ancient city of Hippos, though archaeologists have found dozens of other examples without inscriptions at the site

Scientists Identify the World's First Known Dog, Which Pushes Back the Animals' Genetic Record by About 5,000 Years

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:49:18 +0000

Two new ancient DNA studies suggest that domesticated dogs were widespread in western Eurasia more than 14,000 years ago

Two Green 'Fireballs' Streaked Across the West Coast Sky, Some of the Latest in a String of Dazzling Meteors Above the U.S.

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:43:13 +0000

Some of the space rocks exploded, causing loud booms, and a piece of one may have crashed into a house

'The Sopranos' Changed How Television Told Stories. These Scripts, Sketches and Set Designs Reveal What Made the Mob Drama So Thrilling

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

An exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York provides visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at the award-winning HBO show

These Never-Before-Seen Photos Show Astronaut Neil Armstrong Relaxed and Smiling After He Almost Died in the Gemini 8 Emergency

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:21:10 +0000

Few members of the media were at the unexpected arrival site. Military police officer Ron McQueeney was one of the few photographers who documented the occasion

Scientists Say This 600-Year-Old Grape Seed Is 'Genetically Identical' to Modern Varieties Used to Make Pinot Noir

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:43:27 +0000

Researchers analyzed grape seeds dating to between 2300 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E., including one particularly intriguing sample found in the toilet of a medieval hospital in France

In a First, the World's Most Expensive and Volatile Substance—Antimatter—Traveled by Truck

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:02:37 +0000

The work paves the way for longer-distance transport of the rare material so scientists can study it at other facilities

Vivid Dreams Might Be Key to Feeling Well Rested When You Wake Up, According to a New Study

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The findings could help explain the purpose of dreams and help physicians better treat people with sleep disorders

This Spellbinding Exhibition Explores How Ancient Cultures Used Magic to Navigate Life's Challenges

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Toledo Museum of Art is showcasing a treasure trove of masks, amulets, spellbooks and gems dating to between 2000 B.C.E. and 300 C.E.

NASA Aims to Launch the World's First Planet-Hopping Spacecraft Powered by Nuclear Fission

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:54:54 +0000

The agency wants the mission to head to Mars by the end of 2028

See the Stunning 171-Year-Old Sketch That Helped Put Yosemite on the Map

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:51:22 +0000

The Library of Congress has acquired a drawing and accompanying lithograph of Yosemite Falls created by Gold Rush-era artist Thomas Almond Ayres in 1855

Archaeologists Discover an Intact Cannonball From the Battle of the Alamo—One Day Before the Pivotal Conflict's 190th Anniversary

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:31:22 +0000

The projectile is made of bronze, which suggests it was fired by the Mexican Army during the siege leading up to the 1836 battle

Scientists Capture the First Known Footage of Sperm Whales Headbutting, a Long-Debated Behavior That Inspired 'Moby-Dick'

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:47:25 +0000

Engaging in "rough play" might help young males practice for future headbutting contests in which they compete for mates

A New Nail Polish Might Someday Solve Touch Screen Struggles for Users With Long Fingernails

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The experimental coating could effectively transform fingernails into touch screen-compatible styluses

Archaeologists Are Mystified by These 2,000-Year-Old Bodies Found Seated Upright and Facing West in France

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Researchers previously discovered 13 sets of human remains buried in a similar manner at the same grave site in Dijon

A Bronze Age Loom Sheds New Light on Mediterranean Textile Practices

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:30:38 +0000

This 3,500-year-old warp-weighted loom was surprisingly preserved by a fire that destroyed multiple buildings in an ancient Iberian settlement

Archaeologists Unearth More Than 40,000 Pieces of Pottery That Ancient Egyptians Used Like Scrap Paper

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:01:52 +0000

The ostraca, some dating back to the time just before Cleopatra, were discovered within the ancient ruins of Athribis

This Critically Endangered Bird's Song Was About to Disappear. Scientists Saved It by Recruiting Some Wild Vocal Tutors

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:51:59 +0000

Wild-born male regent honeyeaters passed their cultural knowledge to young captive-born birds

Scientists May Have Discovered a New Type of Planet Beyond the Solar System. The Catch? It Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:41:52 +0000

L98-59d seems to be a molten planet with an atmosphere full of hydrogen sulfide

This Suspected Meteorite Tore Through the Roof of a Suburban Houston Home

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:07:59 +0000

A bright meteor streaked across the afternoon sky and exploded over southeast Texas this weekend

Archaeologists Identify Traces of Children's Fingerprints Still Visible on Clay Beads Created 15,000 Years Ago

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Discovered in present-day Israel, the beads suggest that Natufian groups used clay for symbolic purposes many years earlier than scholars previously thought, according to a new study

Platypus Hair Shares a Puzzling Feature With Bird Feathers, Adding to the Egg-Laying Mammal's List of Unusual Characteristics

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:52:31 +0000

The species’ melanosomes—tiny, pigment-filled structures inside hair cells—are hollow, a trait never before seen in mammals

Finland Is Named the Happiest Country in the World for the Ninth Year in a Row

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:18:19 +0000

The World Happiness Report is an annual ranking of wellbeing around the globe. This year's report spotlighted the consequences of social media use

These Mesmerizing Waterfalls Flow Only Every Few Years. See the Rare Marvel Now in Southwest Utah

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:07:12 +0000

Gunlock Reservoir has exceeded 105 percent of its capacity. As a result, water is spilling onto the red rock boulders below, creating an unusual natural phenomenon just in time for spring break

These Stunningly Detailed 3D Images of Ants Showcase the Remarkable Diversity Across Their Many Species

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:48:40 +0000

Scientists used a game-changing technique to scan about 2,200 preserved specimens in just one week to create the Antscan database

Humans and Animals Often Like the Same Mating Calls, Supporting a 150-Year-Old Observation by Charles Darwin

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:55:09 +0000

New research by Smithsonian scientists suggests that preferences for certain sounds might be evolutionarily conserved

These Historic Snuffboxes Associated With 18th-Century Monarchs Were Stolen in a Shocking Heist. Now, They're Back on Public Display

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In 2024, thieves made away with the intricately decorated boxes, which had been on display in Paris. Two of the boxes, which were later recovered, are now on view at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

Contrary to Popular Belief, Some Doodle Crossbred Dogs May Have More Behavioral Problems Than Their Purebred Parents

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:45:16 +0000

Pet owners often pick "designer dogs" because they think they’ll be easier to train and friendlier with kids than purebreeds. A new study suggests that's not always the case

Archaeologists Unearth Traces of a Mysterious Medieval City That Was Abandoned Under Puzzling Circumstances Hundreds of Years Ago

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:53:34 +0000

Found in a Polish forest, the town of Stolzenberg appears to have been built around the turn of the 14th century. Surveys revealed evidence of a town square, a main street and a moat

See Ramses II's Intricately Decorated Coffin and Rare Treasures From His Reign at This New Immersive Exhibition

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:28:38 +0000

Now on display in London, "Ramses and the Pharaohs' Gold" features 3,000-year-old artifacts alongside virtual reality experiences that transport museumgoers to the 13th century B.C.E.

See the 2,500-Pound Bronze Bison as They Arrive at Their New, Permanent Place at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:12:47 +0000

More than a century ago, the massive mammals actually grazed beside the Smithsonian Castle. As of today, two large sculptures continue that legacy as they flank the museum’s main entrance

Humans May Have Transported Live Parrots Over the Andes Mountains Along Sophisticated Trade Routes Before the Rise of the Inca Empire

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:20:44 +0000

Archaeologists were puzzled when they found parrot feathers in a pre-Inca burial in coastal Peru. A new study suggests that the birds were captured in the wild and kept alive over lengthy journeys

Scientists Make a Major Breakthrough in Solving a Hair-Raising Mystery About Static Electricity

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:29:38 +0000

The findings can help explain the physics behind phenomena like volcanic lightning

European Hedgehogs' Hearing Might Be Attuned to Ultrasonic Sounds. The Discovery Could Help Scientists Save the Declining Species

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Sound-based deterrents could help keep the animals away from fast-moving cars and dangerous landscaping equipment

At the Colosseum, New Marble Slabs Mark Where Towering Columns Stood Thousands of Years Ago

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Crowds once mingled below two tall arcades supported by 164-foot-tall columns. But due to earthquakes and unstable foundations, these architectural elements collapsed long ago

England’s ‘Constable Country’ Is Honoring the 250th Birthday of Its Namesake, Landscape Artist John Constable, With a Year of Exhibitions

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:44:39 +0000

Constable was born in the Suffolk village of East Bergholt on June 11, 1776. With “Constable 250,” nearby Ipswich honors the pastoral painter’s connections to his homeland, community, country and contemporary art

A Groundskeeper Noticed a Sinkhole on a Golf Course. It Turned Out to Be a Wine Cellar Full of Empty Bottles, Untouched for More Than 100 Years

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:04:53 +0000

The cellar is located near the 13th hole of a course at the Davyhulme Park Golf Club in England. Staffers think it was previously part of a manor that was torn down in 1888

An Experimental Brain Implant Allows People With Paralysis to Type Their Thoughts With Their Minds

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:47:18 +0000

One of the two participants wrote words up to a speed similar to an able-bodied person texting on a smartphone

David Hockney Used an iPad to Create This Sprawling 295-Foot-Long Frieze Inspired by the 11th-Century Bayeux Tapestry

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:45 +0000

The artwork, which depicts the changing seasons in Normandy, is the centerpiece of "A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting," a new exhibition in London

Rodents Don't Gnaw Just to Trim Their Teeth—It Also Feels Good, According to a New Study

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:35:20 +0000

The findings could help humans who grind their teeth or clench their jaws

A Meteor Streaked Across the Morning Sky as a Dazzling 'Fireball' Before Exploding With a Thunderous Boom Above Ohio

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

A six-foot-wide, seven-ton asteroid caused the rare celestial spectacle

This Diver Stumbled Upon a Centuries-Old Sword Beneath the Mediterranean Sea. Years Later, He Found Another One Nearby

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Shlomi Katzin, who unearthed a 900-year-old sword in 2021, recently discovered a similar artifact jutting out of the seabed off the coast of Israel

Cannibalistic Blue Crabs Are Eating Their Younger Peers in Part of the Chesapeake Bay

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:56:38 +0000

The findings by Smithsonian researchers could help experts better manage this crustacean's population. The creatures play important roles in the local ecosystem and food industry

The Brilliant Blue Paint Covering This Lavish Room in Ancient Pompeii May Have Cost More Than Half the Annual Salary of a Roman Foot Soldier

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:38:27 +0000

Researchers have estimated how much the home's owners may have paid to paint the small sacrarium, calculating the price of the Egyptian blue pigment and the hours of labor required to prepare it

Frank Lloyd Wright's Vision for the Martin House Included Everything Inside It. See How Experts Recovered Furniture, Artworks and Decorative Glass

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:51:07 +0000

A new exhibition at the home in Buffalo spotlights curators' decades-long efforts to track down the original furnishings and other items, some of which the architect had designed himself

Some Antibiotic Drugs Can Alter Your Gut Microbiome for Up to Eight Years, New Research Suggests

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:13:48 +0000

Just a single course of treatment can leave a lasting impression, according to a study of nearly 15,000 people in Sweden

Bull Sharks Are Large, Aggressive Predators—but They Also Know How to Make 'Friends,' New Research Suggests

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The animals probably socialize to learn new skills and to find food and mates

This Iconic Pink Floyd Instrument Just Became the Most Expensive Guitar Ever Sold at Auction

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

David Gilmour's 1969 Fender Stratocaster, used on "The Dark Side of the Moon" and other famous albums, sold for a record $14.55 million

These Mesmerizing Cave Paintings Were Discovered in 1901. Now, Archaeologists Finally Know When Some of Them Were Created

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:35:09 +0000

Researchers had long assumed the art inside Font-de-Gaume in France was made with pigments that couldn't be analyzed using radiocarbon dating. Then they discovered traces of charcoal

Life's Genetic Code Requires Five Key Ingredients. The Asteroid Ryugu Has All of Them, a New Study Suggests

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:18:09 +0000

The findings further hint that space rocks may have brought the building blocks of RNA and DNA to Earth long ago

Archaeologists Just Uncovered a Shipwreck That Ran Aground on a Remote Island During the War of 1812

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:11:04 +0000

The vessel appears to be the "Swift," a wooden sailing ship that sank off Sable Island in Canada

This Genetic Mutation Helps Yaks Survive at High Elevations. It Could Lead to Treatments for Nerve Damage in Humans

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:36:33 +0000

Animals that dwell at high altitudes have adapted to cope with low oxygen levels, a condition that damages a vital part of nerve cells

Some Mice Are Doting Dads, While Others Ignore or Attack Their Offspring. Researchers Just Figured Out Why

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

In African striped mice, the activity of one gene can dramatically change a male's parenting style, according to a new study

Historians Say They've Discovered a Long-Lost Page From the Archimedes Palimpsest, a Treasure Trove of Rare Ancient Mathematical Treatises

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Three leaves had been missing for more than a century. Researchers found one of them when they decided on a whim to check the archives of a French museum

These Space-Faring Mice Are Helping Scientists Figure Out How to Keep Astronauts' Muscles Working Properly

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:25:38 +0000

A new study suggests a gravity threshold for maintaining muscle function

The Italian Government Just Paid Nearly $35 Million for a Rare Caravaggio Portrait—One of the Most Expensive Artworks It's Ever Acquired

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:23:11 +0000

"Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini" had been on display in the Palazzo Barberini in Rome as part of a loan. Now, it's part of the palace's permanent collection

Haunting Casts Preserving Pompeii Victims' Final Moments 2,000 Years Ago Go on Display in a Solemn New Exhibition

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:11:20 +0000

Since 1863, archaeologists have made more than 100 plaster casts, which show how victims died after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E. A new exhibition displays 22 of the best-preserved examples

King Penguins Seem to Be Benefiting From a Warming World. While That's Good News for Now, It Could Spell Trouble for the Future

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:13:24 +0000

The birds are breeding earlier, and more of their chicks are surviving. But researchers fear this success may not last

Typos Have Plagued Us for Centuries. Just Ask the Publishers Who Printed the Seventh Commandment as 'Thou Shalt Commit Adultery' in 1631

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:09:39 +0000

A new exhibition at Yale Library explores the history of typos across five centuries. Visitors will see corrections that were listed inside copies of works by James Joyce, Upton Sinclair and Nicolaus Copernicus

This 74-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Bone May Have Belonged to a Surprisingly Large Ancestor of Tyrannosaurus Rex

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The massive reptile may have weighed more than 4.5 tons and been 35 feet long—much bigger than its related peers at the time

Specialists Carefully Defuse a 550-Pound Bomb in Dresden—Eight Decades After It Fell During World War II

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:23:12 +0000

After the ordnance was discovered, 18,000 people were evacuated from the city. Experts worked for several hours to safely dispose of the device

Why Are So Many People Claiming They've Discovered Long-Lost Michelangelos?

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:11:10 +0000

One researcher wrote a 600-page report attributing an obscure painting to the artist. Another argued that he'd sculpted a marble bust on display in a Roman church

How Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet? Researchers Examined Feline Spines to Find Out

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:56:26 +0000

Scientists determined that the upper part of a cat's spine is more flexible than the lower part

North American Bird Losses Are Accelerating. New Research Suggests Fertilizers and Pesticides May Be to Blame

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:46:17 +0000

Scientists found the severest changes in decline rates in places that include hallmarks of high-intensity agriculture

Astronomers Witnessed the Birth of a Magnetar for the First Time. It Explains the Mysterious Flickering of an Ultrabright Supernova

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:09:36 +0000

New research suggests that the highly magnetized remnants of stars are responsible for powering some of the universe’s most brilliant supernova explosions

Scientists Discover Microscopic Traces of Leaves, Seeds and Toxic Berries on Pots Used by Stone Age Cooks Thousands of Years Ago

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:35:24 +0000

Hunter-gatherers in Europe carefully selected ingredients and cooked complex foods, often pairing fish with specific plants, according to a new study

Sea Levels Might Be Higher Than We Thought, Putting Millions of People in the Path of Coastal Flooding Sooner Than Expected

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:20:53 +0000

A lot of past research has used flawed methodology to estimate current coastal water levels, according to a new study

A Czech Man Used This Stone in His Barn's Foundations. It Turned Out to Be a Rare Bronze Age Spearhead Mold

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:07:46 +0000

The rectangular object dates to around 1350 B.C.E. and was likely created by members of the Central European Urnfield culture

The Egyptians Used an Ancient Version of Wite-Out to Correct Their Mistakes on This Papyrus Scroll 3,300 Years Ago

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:42:57 +0000

An ancient artist applied a white substance to an illustration of a jackal, slimming down its appearance, according to researchers at the Fitzwilliam Museum in England

Do These Severed Orca Fins Covered in Tooth Marks Mean Killer Whales Are Cannibals? It's Complicated, Scientists Say

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Researchers suggest that predation by a subspecies called Bigg's orcas might explain why members of another one, called resident orcas, stay in such large family groups

Someone Used This Mysterious Coin as Bus Fare in the 1950s. It Turned Out to Be 2,000-Year-Old Currency Minted by the Phoenicians

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

A public transit official working for the city of Leeds found the coin while counting bus and tram fares. Now, his grandson has donated it to Leeds Museums and Galleries

A 1,300-Pound Spacecraft Might Be Plummeting Through Our Atmosphere Right Now

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:45:14 +0000

The debris poses minimal risk of harming anyone

This Museum Is Using Pokémon to Teach Visitors About Fossils. Fans Are Waiting for Hours to Snag Tickets

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:40:50 +0000

"Pokémon Fossil Museum" in Chicago compares "fossil Pokémon" from the popular franchise to the real-world creatures they're based on

Taking a Daily Multivitamin Might Slow Some Signs of Biological Aging, a New Study Suggests

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:25:27 +0000

Researchers don’t know how these modest changes at the cellular level relate to overall health

See a 163-Year-Old Civil War Shipwreck in Stunning Detail With These New High-Resolution Sonar Images

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:29:37 +0000

The USS "Monitor" was the U.S. Navy's first ironclad warship. The vessel, which sank off of North Carolina in 1862, revolutionized naval warfare

This Ancient Reptile Started Life on All Fours. As It Grew, It Stood Upright and Started Walking on Two Legs Instead

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Scientists have identified a strange early crocodile relative that may have looked somewhat like a flightless bird

This Massive Mural Made From 100,000 Bottle Caps Is One Artist's Reinterpretation of 'The Mona Lisa'

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:20:22 +0000

Óscar Olivares, who is known for working with recycled materials, completed the 43-foot-tall artwork in Zacamil, El Salvador, in February

How a Tiny Clump of Moss Helped the FBI Solve a Grave-Robbing Case

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:05:37 +0000

Cemetery workers argued that the crimes happened before their employment. But a buried bit of moss told a different story

This Traveler From India Graffitied His Name on Five Ancient Tombs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings 2,000 Years Ago

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:45:23 +0000

Researchers have discovered 30 inscriptions written in Indian languages, which provide new evidence that visitors from India spent time in Egypt between the first and third centuries C.E.

See How Scientists Reconstructed the Face of Little Foot, a Human Ancestor Who Lived 3.67 Million Years Ago

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:55:47 +0000

For the first time, researchers have digitally reconstructed the facial fragments of the individual, who belonged to the Australopithecus genus

NASA's Asteroid-Smashing DART Mission Changed a Space Rock's Orbit Around the Sun, Marking a First for Humanity

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:19:09 +0000

Studying the 2022 collision's effects can help scientists protect the Earth from celestial objects that might head toward us

Vibrant Wildflowers Are Blanketing Death Valley National Park, Resulting in the Most Breathtaking Bloom in a Decade

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Parts of the park are awash in wildflowers, from the cheery yellow blooms of desert gold to the bright purple clusters of sand verbena, along with many other species

Some People Keep Razor-Sharp Minds Into Their 80s and Beyond. A New Study Reveals Their Secrets

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:57:56 +0000

"Super-agers" seem to produce more new nerve cells in a brain region important for memory than other people their age

These Koalas Bounced Back From the Brink of Local Extinction Extremely Fast. Surprisingly, So Did Their Genetic Resilience

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:53:24 +0000

Conservationists saved the fuzzy creatures in Victoria, Australia. Now, the animals are showing remarkable signs of genetic recovery

This Rare Silver Medal From the First Modern Olympic Games in 1896 Just Sold at Auction

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:24:03 +0000

At the time, athletes received silver medals for winning first place. The Olympics didn't introduce gold medals until 1904

These Intricately Decorated Ostrich Eggshells Suggest Our Ancestors May Have Understood Basic Geometry 60,000 Years Ago

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:31 +0000

The lines, right angles and other mysterious designs required careful planning and robust cognitive abilities, according to a new study

Scientists Thought These Marsupials Went Extinct 6,000 Years Ago. They Just Found the Animals Alive

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider are rare examples of "Lazarus species"

The Iconic House From 'The Brady Bunch' Is Now an Official Historic Landmark in Los Angeles

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:14:33 +0000

Viewers saw the house in shots of the Brady home's exterior, though interior scenes were filmed in a studio. A few years ago, the structure was renovated to match the sets

You Can Buy Salvador Dalí's Largest Painting, a 100-Foot-Long Artwork Made for a Ballet in 1939

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:03:50 +0000

The Surrealist artist created the massive piece for a production called "Bacchanale." It's expected to fetch up to $348,000 at auction

Asteroid 2024 YR4 Won't Slam Into the Moon, According to NASA

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:48:39 +0000

Both Earth and the moon will be dodging the infamous space rock in 2032

The Sweat of Tourists Has Covered Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Fresco in a White Film. Now, the 'Last Judgment' Is Getting a Much-Needed Cleaning

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:03:08 +0000

Patches of calcium lactate have dulled the colors of the famous 16th-century mural, which hasn't been cleaned since 1994. Experts will carefully restore the artwork to its former glory

Take a Look at Uranus' Weird, Lopsided Upper Atmosphere Bespeckled with Auroras

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:55:18 +0000

A new 3D map of gas surrounding the planet will help researchers better understand the strange world

Chimps Seem to Love Crystals. Their Attraction Might Help Explain Humans' Obsession With the Shimmering Stones

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Hominins have been collecting calcite and quartz for at least 780,000 years. A new study hints at why

The Final Season of 'Outlander' Is Here. See the Most Iconic Kilts, Gowns and Other Costumes From the Time Travel Drama

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:30:00 +0000

An exhibition at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown showcases 26 ensembles from the Starz series' first four seasons

Thirty-Four Years Ago, a British Museum Staffer Stole More Than 300 Prints in Broad Daylight. A New Book Chronicles the Thefts and Their Fallout

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:11:17 +0000

While seemingly unreported at the time, the pilfering was uncovered by historian Barnaby Phillips as part of his research for a new book about African treasures

Most Insect Species Call the Tropics Home. But Climate Change Is Pushing Many of the Critters There to Their Heat Limits

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:35:01 +0000

Insects in the lowlands will have an especially hard time with rising temperatures, a new study suggests

Anime, Manga and Traditional Japanese Art Come Together at an Upcoming Auction—From Hokusai's 'The Great Wave' to Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro'

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:19:40 +0000

The sale places pop culture artifacts in conversation with Japan's rich visual traditions. According to Christie's, these items "trace the enduring resonance of motifs, techniques and narratives rooted in Japan's past"

Why Has Punch, an Adorable Baby Monkey, Struggled to Fit in With His Troop? Scientists Explain the Lives of Japanese Macaques

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:15:58 +0000

Experts say the other monkeys' aggressive behaviors toward Punch are pretty normal

Could Life on Earth Have Descended From Microbes That Traveled From Mars Long Ago?

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:00:52 +0000

Scientists demonstrated that an Earthly extremophile might withstand being ejected from the Red Planet on debris spewed into space due to an asteroid strike

Mosquitoes Have Been Biting Humans for More Than One Million Years

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:42:00 +0000

A new study suggests that the deadly insects evolved their taste for human blood much earlier than previously thought, around when Homo erectus migrated into Southeast Asia

See the New U.S. Postage Stamp Honoring the Bison, America's National Mammal

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:58:21 +0000

The stamp features a modern image by Montana-based wildlife photographer Tom Murphy alongside a historic bison stamp design from 1923

These Clownfish Lose Their Baby Stripes in Response to Peer Pressure, New Research Suggests

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:55:59 +0000

Tomato clownfish perform a dramatic underwater wardrobe change based on the social dynamics of their environment

You've Seen Jackson Pollock's Dizzying Drip Paintings. But His Wife, Lee Krasner, Was Also a Major Player in the Abstract Expressionist Movement

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:06:06 +0000

Titled "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous," a new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will examine the lives and careers of both artists, who met in New York in the 1940s

They Joked About Discovering a Forgotten Masterpiece. Now, Experts Say They're the Unwitting Owners of an Original Rembrandt

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:56:59 +0000

"Vision of Zacharias in the Temple" had been removed from the Dutch painter's oeuvre in the 1960s. But when the owners brought it to the Rijksmuseum, scholars decided to conduct a close analysis

Why Do Basketball Players' Shoes Squeak on the Court? Here's the Physics Behind the Iconic, High-Pitched Sounds

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:47:24 +0000

The screeches come from wave-like deformations of sneakers’ flexible soles

These California Condors Might Be Tending to the Species' First Egg in the State's Northern Region in More Than a Century

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Experts haven't confirmed the existence of an egg, but the nesting birds' behaviors suggest one was laid in early February

Panamanian Golden Frogs Disappeared From the Wild Due to a Deadly Fungus. Now, Scientists Are Returning Them to Nature

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:12:36 +0000

Smithsonian researchers in Panama have begun to reintroduce native golden frogs to the wild in special enclosures

Here's How Animators Make Stop-Motion Masterpieces Like 'Wallace & Gromit' Come Alive

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:38:26 +0000

Aardman's shows, shorts and feature films require painstaking craftsmanship. An interactive exhibition at the Young V&A museum in London brings museumgoers behind the scenes

Are 1 in 200 Men Alive Today Really Related to Genghis Khan? Probably Not, According to New Research

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:56:17 +0000

A new DNA analysis suggests that the genetic legacy of the Mongol Empire's founder is likely more complicated than historians previously assumed

We've Been Manipulating Images Since the Invention of Photography—Long Before Photoshop or Artificial Intelligence

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:50:58 +0000

Dating to between 1860 and 1940, more than 50 photographs depicting the impossible are on view in a new exhibition at the Rijksmuseum

Like an 'Eight-Ton Chicken,' Tyrannosaurus Rex May Have Run on Its Tiptoes to Catch Speedy Prey

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:45:46 +0000

A new study suggests that the giant dinosaurs' locomotion resembled that of modern-day birds

Emperor Penguins' Annual Molt Might Put Them in Peril. The Sea Ice They Rely on During This Vulnerable Period Is Disappearing

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The birds' already risky molting strategy—in which they shed and regrow all their feathers at once—is becoming even more hazardous due to climate change

Why NASA's Artemis 3 Mission Isn't Sending Astronauts to the Moon Anymore

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:01:51 +0000

The mission’s goals have changed, and Artemis 4 will be the first lunar landing attempt. Four missions are tentatively scheduled within the next three years

Museum Devoted to the Romantic Movement Reopens in Paris After Extensive Renovations

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:42:36 +0000

The Musée de la Vie Romantique, where the Dutch-French painter Ary Scheffer once lived, opened its doors on Valentine's Day

Shipwreck Timbers Appeared on a Beach After a Storm. They Had Been Buried Beneath the Sand Since the 17th Century

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:13:59 +0000

Experts think the newly unearthed timbers may have come from the "Fame," an armed Dutch merchant vessel that sank off the Dorset coast in 1631

Georges Seurat Is Most Famous for His Pointillist Painting of a Paris Park. But More Than Half of His Canvases Were Stunning Seascapes

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:17:42 +0000

More than two dozen artworks depicting the northern coast of France are now on display at the Courtauld Gallery in London. It's the first-ever exhibition dedicated to the French artist's seascapes

These Majestic Goats Have Been Traipsing Around Ireland for at Least 3,000 Years, Research Suggests

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:54:00 +0000

Goat bones dating to between 1100 B.C.E. and 900 B.C.E. were a close genetic match for modern Old Irish goats, a historic breed with declining numbers

Neanderthal Men May Have Often Hooked Up With Human Women Thousands of Years Ago

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:49:03 +0000

Most people alive today carry a little Neanderthal DNA—except in a few spots. A new study might explain why

Treetops Emit Ultraviolet Sparkles During Thunderstorms. Researchers Just Filmed It in Nature for the First Time

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The weather events probably cause the air around leaves to produce weak electrical discharges

This Ancient Roman Game Board Was a Mystery. Researchers Used A.I. to Figure Out How to Play

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:25:46 +0000

The limestone oval is carved with a dark, thin rectangle on which ancient people repeatedly moved game pieces

The Berlin Cathedral Is Reopening Its Massive Crypt—Home to the Bones of One of Europe’s Most Powerful Dynasties

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:56:55 +0000

The crypt, which has been closed for renovations for the past six years, houses coffins containing members of the House of Hohenzollern

A Scholar Recognized the Inscriptions in the Margins of This Manuscript. The Scribbles Turned Out to Be Galileo's Handwritten Notes

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:17:51 +0000

Found in a 16th-century copy of an ancient astronomy treatise, the annotations suggest that the trailblazing scientist studied Earth-centric models before lending his support to heliocentrism

The Eerie 'Blood' Moon Will Grace the Night Sky This Week, Thanks to a Total Lunar Eclipse

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:40:54 +0000

The orb will take on the spooky hue for about an hour on March 3 because of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere

Wild Chimpanzees Love to Eat Boozy Fruit. Scientists Say the Proof Is in Their Pee

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:05:58 +0000

The work further hints that humans may have inherited our penchant for alcohol from our ape ancestors

Caribou Are the Only Deer Species in Which Females Grow Antlers. Scientists Just Figured Out Why

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:17:45 +0000

New research suggests female reindeer antlers serve as postpartum snacks, with new moms munching on them after giving birth to get a much-needed boost of protein, calcium and phosphorus

What Does This 150-Year-Old Bottle of Mystery Booze Taste Like? Fruity, With a Hint of Leather

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Experts in Utah recently sipped the murky liquid, which was found during excavations at a historic ski area

Needy Caterpillars Vibrate to Complex Rhythms to Communicate With Ants

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:07:02 +0000

Researchers have found that some butterfly caterpillars mimic the meticulously timed movements of ants to win their favor and protection

Northern Elephant Seals Test Positive for Deadly, Highly Infectious H5N1 Bird Flu for the First Time

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:02:40 +0000

About 30 seals at a California state park have died, and seven of them had the lethal virus. Lab results for the other animals are pending

Astronomers Spotted a Galaxy That's Made Up Almost Entirely of Dark Matter

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:51:35 +0000

The researchers found the galaxy thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope

A Smashing New Proposal About Saturn's History Might Explain Its Iconic Rings and Some of Its Odd Moons

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:11:41 +0000

A crash involving the planet’s largest moon, Titan, and a hypothetical moon may have triggered a curious sequence of events

A Woman Found a Folder in a Drawer. When She Opened It, She Discovered 35 Forgotten Rembrandt Etchings

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:34:02 +0000

Charlotte Meyer's grandfather acquired the artworks between 1900 and 1920. Now, they're going on view for the first time in more than a century

Seventy-Two Captive Tigers in Thailand Die From Dangerous Infections, Sparking Concerns Over Animal Welfare

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:40:48 +0000

An animal foundation asks why the big cats weren't vaccinated against a well-known virus

A Couple Walking Their Dogs Noticed 2,000-Year-Old Footprints on the Beach. They Were Visible for Just Days Before Waves Erased Them Forever

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Archaeologists raced to document the semi-fossilized tracks in eastern Scotland. They were likely made by humans, deer and other animals during the late Iron Age

Humans May Have Used These Mysterious Symbols to Encode Information Tens of Thousands of Years Before the First Writing Systems

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:31:29 +0000

The symbols, discovered on 40,000-year-old artifacts in caves in southwest Germany, may have been a precursor to the first written language

This Nearly 50-Foot-Long Sock Monkey Sculpture Is the Largest on Earth, Guinness World Records Confirms

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Created by 22-year-old art student Emilia Evans-Munton, the sculpture is made of nearly 200 feet of corduroy fabric and 40 bales of straw

How Do Horses Whinny? Scientists Say They've Figured Out How the Majestic Animals Make This Distinctive Sound

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

An equine makes the low-pitched part of its whinny by vibrating its vocal cords—similar to how humans speak and sing—and the high-pitched part by whistling

This Famous 17th-Century Elephant Sculpture in Rome Keeps Losing the Tip of Its Tusk

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the statue holds an 18-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk on its back. The four-inch fragment of its tusk was found nearby

See How Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' Inspired Centuries of Artists—From Caravaggio to René Magritte

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:59:22 +0000

A show at the Rijksmuseum brings together paintings, sculptures, film and other artworks that reinterpret the ancient Roman poet's tales of transformation

A Mass Grave Uncovered in Serbia Hints at a Violent Iron Age Massacre That Targeted Women and Children

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:57:08 +0000

A new analysis of human remains found more than 50 years ago reveals fresh insights about culture clashes in prehistoric Europe

Listen to What Archivists Believe to Be Oldest-Known Whale Recording

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:20:14 +0000

The nearly 80-year-old disc resided in the archives of the the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for decades and may hold the secret to learning about changes in whale behavior over time

Rare and Original Watercolor Illustrations of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ Go Up for Auction

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:42:06 +0000

The two paintings were copied into a limited-edition book of illustrations published almost a decade after the famous book of wild stories set in India

Lifelong Learning Might Lower Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer's Disease, a New Study Suggests

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:13:34 +0000

While the research does not point to a direct, causal link, it hints that activities like reading, writing and playing games might help extend cognitive function

Why Did a Man Build This Secret Passageway Below a Dresser Drawer Nearly 200 Years Ago? Historians Think It Was Part of the Underground Railroad

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Staffers at the Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan are unraveling the mysteries of the narrow tunnel, which is hidden beneath a piece of built-in furniture on the second floor

Can Apes Play Pretend? What Scientists Learned From Having Imaginary 'Tea Parties' With Kanzi the Bonobo

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:35:50 +0000

A new study provides evidence for imagination in a captive-raised, English language-trained animal

Construction Workers Digging in Northern England Stumble Upon a 2,200-Pound Cannon That May Be More Than 300 Years Old

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:18:53 +0000

Crews unearthed the artifact while working on a restoration project at Queen's Gardens, a public park that was once the largest dock in the United Kingdom

Giant Tortoises Vanished From the Galápagos' Floreana Island More Than 150 Years Ago. Now, Conservationists Have Brought Them Back

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:08:03 +0000

Researchers released captive-bred tortoises carrying the ancestry of the extinct local species

The Oldest State Park in America Is About to Expand

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:11:01 +0000

Niagara Falls State Park in western New York is absorbing two neighboring parks, which will add more than 150 acres and new hiking trails to its bounds

See the First Known Footage of an Elusive Southern Sleeper Shark Swimming in Antarctica's Near-Freezing Waters

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:43:04 +0000

It might be the southernmost encounter with a shark ever documented

The Nazis Stole This Rare Jewish Prayer Book Decorated With Dragons, Unicorns and Intricate Floral Patterns. It Just Sold for $6.4 Million at Auction

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:39:41 +0000

A scribe created the volume, now known as the Rothschild Vienna Mahzor, in Vienna 600 years ago. It was recently returned to the heirs of its 20th-century owners, who decided to sell the text at a Sotheby's sale

NASA Report Reveals the Failures That Left Two Astronauts 'Stranded' on the International Space Station

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:03:58 +0000

NASA's administrator blames both the agency and Boeing for Starliner's infamous problems

Investigators Unravel $12 Million Ticket-Fraud Scheme at the Louvre

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:32:07 +0000

Police have arrested nine individuals in connection with the crime, though they have not revealed their identities

Scientists Still Have So Much to Learn About Archaeopteryx, the Dinosaur That May Have Flown Like a Bird

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:00:12 +0000

A new study suggests features in the prehistoric creature's mouth helped it eat more efficiently, giving the species the energy needed to go airborne

This Massive, Meat-Eating Dinosaur Was a 'Hell Heron' That Waded Into Shallow Waters to Nab Slippery Fish

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:50:05 +0000

Paleontologists unearthed a new species of Spinosaurus in the Sahara Desert in Niger, a discovery that adds to the debate over whether the prehistoric creatures were fully or semi-aquatic

Vincent van Gogh Adored the Color Yellow. A New Exhibition in Amsterdam Wants You to Fall In Love With the Hue, Too

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:30:25 +0000

The Dutch artist's paintings showcase plants, landscapes, objects and buildings in bold shades of yellow

These 12 Popular Dog Breeds Are at Risk of Breathing Problems Related to Their Short Snouts, a New Study Suggests

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Past research on brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome—a chronic, hereditary disease associated with flat faces—has focused mainly on just three breeds

Watch Never-Before-Seen Footage of David Bowie Performing 'Heroes' at This New Immersive Exhibition

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:33:21 +0000

When it opens in London, "David Bowie: You're Not Alone" will tell the story of the man behind the many personas with newly discovered footage and other archival recordings

Researchers Retrieve the Deepest-Ever Rock Core From Beneath Antarctica's Ice. It Holds Clues About the Earth's Past—and Future

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The 748-foot-long sediment core contains a record of roughly the past 23 million years, including periods when the planet's surface temperature was hotter than it is today

You Can Buy One of History's Rarest Baseball Cards—if You Have Several Million Dollars to Spare

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:19:40 +0000

The newly graded T206 Honus Wagner card has been in the same family for 116 years. It wasn't on experts' radar until last year

Watch the First-Ever Video Uploaded to YouTube, a Grainy 19-Second Clip Called 'Me at the Zoo'

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:00:44 +0000

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has acquired the site's very first video, which went live on April 23, 2005

Ireland Launches Its Permanent ‘Income for the Arts’ Scheme, Becoming the First Government Committed to Paying Artists

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:52:06 +0000

The permanent Basic Income for the Arts scheme was announced last fall, following a nearly identical pilot scheme. Come spring, Irish artists will be able to apply for three years of weekly stipends: a value of almost $60,000

Is Autism Really a Male-Dominated Condition? A New Study Suggests Women Have It Just as Often, but Are Diagnosed Later in Life

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:05:25 +0000

Researchers examined the prevalence of autism among nearly three million people born in Sweden over the past four decades

How Do Researchers Identify Individual Bears in the Wild? They Could Soon Do It Through A.I. Facial Recognition Technology

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Such tools could help scientists track population sizes or recognize aggressive animals that have attacked humans

Intermittent Fasting Might Not Live Up to the Hype When It Comes to Weight Loss, New Research Suggests

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The popular eating strategy is about as effective as doing nothing to lose weight, according to a review of several clinical trials

A Man Bought a $13 Camera at a Thrift Shop—and Found 70-Year-Old Film Still Inside. Do You Recognize the Faces in the Photos?

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Staffers at a photography shop in England carefully developed the negatives, which depict a ski trip in the Swiss Alps. Now, they're searching for clues to help identify the people pictured

Police Recover Ancient Egyptian Artifacts the Day After a Heist at a Museum in Australia

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:30:07 +0000

The looted items included a 2,600-year-old wooden cat figurine, a 3,300-year-old necklace and a mummy mask

Couples Have Been Kissing Under the Lovers' Arch in Italy for Years. On Valentine's Day, It Collapsed Into the Sea

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:09:04 +0000

The iconic rock formation crumbled after days of raging storms. Local officials are calling for new initiatives to help slow coastal erosion in the region

Astronomers Discover an Exoplanet in the Wrong Place, Hinting at a Planetary System That Was Born 'Inside Out'

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:58:56 +0000

A rocky planet was found orbiting its host star in an unusual location

Like Humans, Baboons Get Jealous of Their Siblings

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:19:19 +0000

A new study found that young baboons try to interrupt their mother when she is grooming a sibling

Why Do Humans Have Chins? They Might Be an Evolutionary Accident, New Research Suggests

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The bony facial protrusion might be an evolutionary byproduct that resulted from changes to other parts of the skull, according to a new study

This Luxury Steamer Disappeared on a Stormy Night in 1872. Nearly 150 Years Later to the Day, It Was Found at the Bottom of Lake Michigan

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The "Lac La Belle" was discovered 20 miles off the coast of Wisconsin in 2022 after a fisherman offered shipwreck hunters a mysterious clue

Scientists Once Thought This Snail Was Extinct. But a Surprising Discovery and Decade-Long Conservation Effort Revived the Species

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:52:29 +0000

Conservationists have bred and released more than 100,000 greater Bermuda land snails

Lucian Freud Is Famous for His Unflinching Portraits. These Rarely Seen Drawings Provide an Intimate Window Into His Creative Process

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:44:01 +0000

A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London showcases drawings and etchings from throughout the British artist’s 60-year career

Archaeologists Unearthed a 2,200-Year-Old Bone. They Say It Could Be the First Direct Evidence of Hannibal's Legendary War Elephants

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:46:36 +0000

The Carthaginian general famously used elephants during the Punic Wars. But until now, archaeologists had never found skeletal remains linking the animals to the conflict

A Star Suddenly Brightened, Then Faded Into Darkness. Astronomers Say It May Have Turned Into a Black Hole

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:14:57 +0000

If confirmed, this disappearing act might provide the closest and best observational evidence for the birth of a black hole

How Often Do You Fart? This 'Smart Underwear' Can Keep Track, Because Figuring Out a Baseline Is Important for Science

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Researchers have launched a study to find a typical range for flatulence, which has been harder to measure than you might expect

Bird-Watchers Flock to Montreal to Catch a Glimpse of Canada's First Known European Robin

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Experts don't know how the little songbird traveled across the Atlantic Ocean

These 12,000-Year-Old Scraps of Elk Hide May Be the World's Oldest Known Examples of Sewing

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Indigenous groups in present-day Oregon stitched the fragments together using cord made from plant fiber and animal hair. Experts think they may have been part of a garment, bag, container or portable shelter